Skanda Sashti is observed on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of the Tamil month of Aippasi This day is dedicated to the second son of Lord Shiva – Lord Subramanya, also known as Kartikeya, Kumaresa, Guha, Murugan, Shanmukha and Velayudhan, who on this day, is believed to have annihilated the mythical demon Taraka.